“Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.”

(Psalm 34:9)

We often think of fear as a negative emotion. Certainly, for many people, living in fear can be a stressful experience that leads to anxiety and depression. Some fears or phobias can also be quite limiting. For example, an agoraphobic, which is someone afraid of open spaces can find it hard to leave the house. For others living in fear, because you are with a violent partner is a terrible state to live in, whilst fears of bad things happening in the future, like losing a job, can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety.

Yet, fear is also a good and necessary part of life. Sometimes being afraid can make you feel more alive. I guess that is why people deliberately take on scary activities like bungy jumping, fare rides or parachuting. Also, fear is a protective emotion. A healthy fear of heights ensures that you are careful around cliff edges and so protects you from falling. We naturally fear snakes, because we know their bites can be poisonous, so our fear helps us to steer clear of them. Similarly, we are meant to fear the consequences of breaking the law. The hope is that fear of being locked up for a long time will help us to resist the temptation to steal or murder.

Both, the Old and New Testaments stress the importance of fearing God. Our spirituality should lead us to know God more fully, both intellectually and at a heart level. The more we know God, the more we understand how much he loves us and that he wants the best for us, but also that we need to fear his righteous and good judgement for us and for others, in a way that is similar to fearing the judgement of the law, but more so, because God is the true and eternal judge. Fear of God, then is freeing not limiting, it brings peace, because we are confident that justice will win out and it develops a wisdom in us, that will enable us to prosper in life.

Paul Worledge

It’s a Love Story, Concert Saturday 15^th February, 7:30pm

Love Story will be another gala fundraiser night at St George’s church, featuring Coastal Choir and guests with the St George’s Community Meal and Speak Up sharing the proceeds. Tickets available online (£8), from Brenda Clarke (£8) or £10 on door.

 

Christ Church Services

There will be evening prayer services at Christ Church, at 3pm on 2^nd Sunday of the month starting this Sunday.

Fundraiser for the Community Meal

As part of International Women’s Day, Raushan Ara is hosting a “World on your Plate” fundraising event in aid of the St. George’s Community Meal. Participants have a chance to dress culturally and bring a dish of their own country to share. There will be guest speakers and live dance and music. Saturday 8^th March, 1pm, Ramsgate Tandoori, Harbour Street.

Links to Share:

Dark Spiritual Encounters and Hidden Dangers

This is a quite academic study of how we should understand and respond to the rise of dark spiritual practices like witchcraft. Read on… (20 mins)

 

The Spirituality of non-violence

This short article, gives ‘Ten Commandments’ for those seeking to be a peacemaker. Read on…  (2 mins)

Finally, let’s learn to live in fear of God.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)

 Weekly Calendar

Sunday 9^th February – Fourth Sunday before Lent

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Psalm 34

Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)

Monday 10^th

Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm

Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm

Tuesday 11^th

Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm

Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm

Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm

Wednesday 12^th

Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon

Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm

Depression & Anxiety Self-Help Group (Online) – 6:00-7:30pm

Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm

Thursday 13^th

Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Saturday 15^th

Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm

Coastal Choir Concert (St. George’s Church) – 7:30-9:30pm

Sunday 16^th – Third Sunday before Lent

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Psalm 23

Online Forms

Under the ‘Contact’ tab on the website, there are now three forms that you can use to help us in managing the church:

• Events Application Form. Use this if you are organising a church event that needs a church room booked, advertising or ticketing.
• Submit a Notice. Use this if you want to ask us to include a prayer request or other notice in the church notice sheet or email.
• Maintenance Reporting Form.Use this to report any non-urgent issues with our buildings or grounds.

St. George’s Website

• What’s On – a page which lets you know what is happening this week and gives information about upcoming events.
• Notices – You can read the latest notices on this page.
• Sermons – Read a transcript of a recent sermon or watch the YouTube version recorded at St. Luke’s. There are now videos for all the sermons over the summer.

Safeguarding Training

If you volunteer in anyway at church the national authorities are strongly encouraging you to take at least the Basic Module in safeguarding training once every three years.

If you have not completed the training in the last three years, then the module can be completed online and takes about ninety minutes. You can access the training by following this link. You will need to first register, to access the training. Once the training is completed, you will be sent a certificate. Please forward that certificate to James (office@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.